DAB provides a listening experience without the hiss, crackle, fading or station overlap that can be experienced with AM or even FM radio.
The quality of the listening experience on DAB and analogue radio can be influenced by a number of different factors including how the station is broadcast and on what capacity; the radio receiver; the speakers; the antenna; and, if the radio is fitted in-car, the quality of the fitting and the cables used.
Media regulator Ofcom regularly conducts research into consumer attitudes towards digital radio. The most recent research (The Communications Market: digital radio Report) published in November 2016, showed that ‘clear and high-quality sound’ is the key benefit associated with digital radio among DAB listeners (76%). This has been the case since Ofcom started the annual research in 2009.